1. Rehearsal Dinner-Not A Chance!
"I won't leave this room with this… with this suffocating, extravagant dress Alice. What were you thinking?"
I looked naked, I felt naked. The dress Alice forced me to put on was ridiculously uncovered, it left my shoulders bare naked, and it wasn't short, I should call it minuscule, it wasn't even knee length, it was shorter.
"I was thinking about how well you would look with this dress silly, you have to admit it's gorgeous." Alice didn't stare at me at all, she was searching for something in her enormous room, she entered to the spa sized bathroom while I kept staring daggers at wherever place that tiny figure was.
"What else is there Alice, don't tell me did you bought me some meaningless high heels don't you? You're so predictable Alice, if you think I will wear any stinking dangerous high heels you're gravely mistaken you hear me Alice?! Gravely mistaken, I won't be any Guinea pig Barbie again!" I wasn't controlling myself anymore, I was in panic, knowing Alice she bought what I had said and probably she was searching that in her room. I was terrified of the size of the heels, about the price, about my disability to walk even with socks.
She stopped her head immediately; she turned it dramatically slow and stared at me with wide incredibly tender eyes.
"Are you mad at me Bella?" Her eyes were more pleading now, wider and prettier.
This image was heartbreaking how could I be mad at Alice?
"Of course not Alice. I'm not mad at you" I softened and smiled at her-a sincere smile.
"Well I am very sorry Bella if this happens to be uncomfortable for you, I was just trying to make you feel happy, I thought that you would like to be… well to be more liked by Edward." Didn't Edward like me with a weary shirt and jeans? Hadn't he accepted me with all my non fashionable, worn out clothes anyway?
"Alice… " I began and my sentence got trailed off. I knew from the start she would win anyway, I would look stupid with this mini dress and probably break my ankles with the future heels.
"I know, I know Bella, but I promise you'll like it, I bought something else for you that aren't stilettos, that is what I'm looking for, and your shoes were picked since last week and are more than ready so you missed on that one." Without shame she smiled at me, as if it was all settled, as if I wasn't going to put any resistance, as if I had all ready gave in which seconds away I did.
"Just promise me something Alice." Is the least you can do for me after treating me like a stinking Barbie.
"I know Bella, don't worry you won't look ridiculous I promise, you'll look beautiful and I know Edward will like it." She began searching in the drawers and she stopped her face static, an awkward smile was placed on her face.
Her right hand held one black velvet box tiny and expensively looking, I began to shake.
She raised that box with admiration visible in her golden eyes, then turned her face and looked me with a suspicious smile.
"Bella this is a gift I wanted to give you since graduation, but you turn the things difficult and I hadn't had time to give it to you, please don't get difficult again."
I saw that tiny little black box as if it was about to bite me I watched it with horror.
She gave three gracefully dancing steps and reached to me holding the velvet box in front of my face.
"Open it Bella." A big white pretty smile was on her pixie face, the gold of her eyes flickered with intensity.
"What if I don't want to?" The response got through my mouth reflexively as a whisper, I felt I couldn't breathe.
It was silly for me to think so ill about this tiny box?
No, of course it wasn't, I do not like presents at all, I'm such apathy to any present that had requested any money, if someone wanted to make me happy with an unnecessary gift I would prefer something handmade like a sincere letter or the CD Edward made for me a 13 of September when… when… when he left.
"Then I will be terribly upset Bella, you are really hurting my feelings you know." Her pixie face got an upsetting shade as some little kid making a pucker, a really distressing pucker. I suddenly wanted to hug her.
I put my arms around the fairy's tiny body and leaned my head against hers.
"I am sorry Alice, please give it to me." Very stylishly she loosed from my hug and landed in a graceful fourth ballet position with the box in her pale white hand.
"Open it now!" That was an order that now, I was compelled to obey.
I took the box from her hand, not without rushing with the iciness. My hand was trembling when I began to open it. With how much money will I be burdening…
"Stop fidgeting Bella open it now!"
"Fine, fine." I grumbled and opened the box with two shaky fingers.
"Alice it's beautiful!" My sight stopped at one necklace, it had a heart-shaped charm, filled up with miniature crystals. The charm wasn't big or extravagant; it was a very small size- that made me breathe again.
"I know you would like it, it's just like you Bella, discrete and lovely." She was staring me again; suddenly her words made me want to cry.
"Oh! Alice, Thank You!" I began to have a lightly mop, my eye let a teardrop fall through my already warm cheek.
I hugged her for the second time, now she returned my hug but with precaution not letting my bare neck in her mouth, keeping me some centimeters away from her razor blades.
"Don't worry Bella and please stop crying, you'll ruin the mascara." She moved away from me and began to clean the black tears.
I handed her the necklace and she adapt it to my neck.
"It's time to come down Bella, everyone is waiting."
Everyone? That word made my tears dispel immediately as if I had run out of them. I felt my cheeks grow pink, why if I fall, I hadn't seen the size of the heel, I'll surely fall, look at this dress it's very… tiny, it was made for people like Alice with a great body and silhouette and grace for walking.
She sprung through the room all the way through the door; she stopped and pointed out black suede shoes, with the most dangerous heels I've ever seen.
"Come on Bella!" Think of Edward, think of Edward, Edward's waiting; I kept constantly reminding me that, Edward was worth it all and this wasn't a pain after all.
I began walking shyly through the rug of the floor; I hadn't noticed that the dress was very waisted, tight from the legs it sort of hampered me to walk normally.
I slipped one foot softly in one shoe and tried it on, fitting the suede. I slipped the other one and I was taller, painfully taller.
The arch of my feet would be shattered after this night.
When I gave one step I stumbled with serious probabilities of falling down the stairs but Alice caught me on time.
"Careful Bella." She warned. Try to walk with heels that look like the Empire State and a dress that makes you feel like canned tuna.
One, two, three stairs, safe!
I finally beat the stairs and landed on a plain surface, the Cullen's living room.
Nothing was there, I didn't noticed any change it was the same big white classic room with Edward's black piano, and pretty furniture, very peaceful.
"Alice?" I asked.
"Come Bella." She grabbed my hand and began to pull from it; she was leading me to the enormous backyard of the house.
My left hand was taken by another icy hand but this time bigger, Alice let go from me. The larger icy hand spun me into his arms and landed me on his chest.
"I've missed you." I said, lifting my head to see him.
I met those golden brown eyes and sigh at the very sight of them.
"I've missed you too." His velvet voice emerged like a precious sound that delighted my ear. He kissed my forehead and pressed my body against him.
"Are you ready love?" He kept talking through my hair, impregnating the characterized sweet scent of his breath.
"No I'm not." I answered in a whisper.
"Are your feet cold?" He pulled me away with the softest movement, still holding me by the hand. He looked at me in the eyes; the topaz was solidifying with concern.
"No, of course not, they're bursting but a wedding…" It was clear that I had some opposition against marrying at 18 even if I had already told Charlie and endured the ultimate doom on telling Rene, Rene was the one that amazed me the most she took it with the most normality possible, she did not gave me a lecture about infatuated or stupid teenagers and their mistakes, she even gave herself away on insinuating that the last time Edward and I visited her we were already engaged.
I was sure about Edward, but marrying at 18 isn't exactly a bright idea nor normal, but what of my life is?
I'm still opposed to the idea of someone calling me a Mrs., for Christ's sake I'm only 18! But I need to do it; I want to have Edward forever.
"Bella I know you have some prejudices against marriage but it's not as awful as they paint it, marriage is something that defines the life's of the couples and also make other people realize clearly who you are in love with and I want the whole town or better said the whole world know, that I'm in love with you Bella, that I'm yours and will always be." He's eyes turned tender and soft, his icy hand took my chin an pulled it to his, our lips collide, his scent spread through all my body.
"I'm in love with you too Edward Cullen." I gasped. He took my waist and pulled me closer to him again, he stare at my lips for long time.
"And you want the world to know it as I do?" He smiled at me a real bright, enchanting, sweet smile.
I laughed at this.
"I do, I want to let the whole world know that I'm yours heart and soul, I want everyone to know that I love you Edward, especially Mike."
He made a face as reflecting my answer then suddenly all doubt dissipated and a burst of happiness came instead, emotion could be revealed in his golden eyes.
"Oh! I've been waiting decades to hear you say this Miss Swan; I'm the happiest man… Oops! my bad, let me correct myself, I'm the happiest vampire in the world."
"Will you kiss me?" I said impatiently and stared him deeply in his amber eyes.
"Is that what you want Miss Swan?" he answered politely, his lips were hardly pressed, twitching as he tried to suppress a smile.
"I do."
Then my lips rushed in his, trying to absorb the most I could from the sweet fragrance of his mouth. Edward was inside of me, his scent, his smile, his eyes and soon his venom would be too, I just have to endure one or two more play-offs of ridiculous dresses and uncomfortable shoes and really unnecessary dinners for the real circus to start and it would be all, I would have Edward, eternally.
"Lovers, it would be better for all of us if you could just stick up to the original plan, no smooches are allowed here, we're having a dinner here huh!" Emmet stared at us with a sardonically stare, I couldn't help but blush.
Edward cleared his throat, squeezed my hand and gave me a supporting smile for what would happen next.
I did not know how many people Alice invited; it hadn't had to be everyone, maybe tomorrow all people will come, tomorrow is the official dinner so I guess…
I could still argue with Alice about not wearing this dress tomorrow and change the tower heels to a regular, normal size would be just about right.
I wasn't feeling nervous now, I knew that the people who would be there waiting in the garden would be the ones I know, my future family-in-law and the love of my existence so why should I fear?
I gave two secure steps and crossed the door that separated the house from the garden. I almost choke at the sight of it.
There was a gazebo adorned with white lights creating an artificial starry night, it was embellished with white flowers hanging over the top.
For some reason I did not need any sweater, somehow Forks granted me a night without cold and drizzle.
I looked away from the gazebo and found people staring at me, ordinary town folks not beautiful vampires.
I could see faces, Mike Newton's was the first I saw, he literally didn't kept from staring at me, he didn't even bothered on conceal it, his mouth was open.
I saw Angela giving me a warm smile that I gave back, then I saw Jess, also smiling and giving me thumbs up making emphasis on the shortness of my dress -I blushed.
Mr. and Mrs. Weber were also there so Mrs. Stanley and Mrs. Newton and all the Mrs. From town, I was up now to convert to one of them.
I shook off that though from my head and fell straight to reality, people was staring at me I was in the spotlight. I got sick; I really wanted to throw up.
I kept looking face through face sit in rounded tables trying to find a familiar face… to me.
I was looking for Edward or Charlie or Alice or anyone!
I walked with my head down trying to find a safe spot where I could sit.
When I moved my leg to give my first step, everyone began to applaud.
I felt disoriented.